The
steel cuting cutting ceremony of the first KSS-III (Jangbogo III programme)
heavy diesel-electric submarine took place yesterday (November 27th)
at DSME shipyard in presence of the Republik of Korea Navy (ROK Navy)
Chief of Staff, Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) representatives
and DSME officials.

The ROK Navy Chief of Staff cuts the first steel of KSS-III at DSME
shipyard
Picture: DSME

Under the Jangbogo III programme, the first submarine is due to be launched
in 2018 and handed over to the Republic of Korea Navy at the end of
2020 following two years of sea trials. The second submarine will be
delivered at the end of 2022. KSS-III is expected to be produced in
three batches:
Batch-I consists in the first two hulls to be built by DSME.
Batch-II will consist in three hulls built by HHI (Huyndai Heavy Industries).
They will be fitted with a greater deal of South Korean technology.
Batch-III will consists in the four remaining hulls (for a total of
nine KSS-III submarines across all batches). The last submarine is expected
to be delivered in 2029.

The original design of the submarine includes 6x VLS (vertical launch
system) tubes. They would accomodate a future cruise missile in development
by LIG Nex1 while the launchers would be provided by Doosan. It was
announced earlier this year that Spanish company INDRA was selected
to provide its electronic defense system (ESM) PEGASO and Babcock of
the UK would design and manufacture the Weapon Handling System for the
Batch-I submarine.

It was officialy announced
during Euronaval 2014 that Sagem would supply the optronic masts
for the class. Navy Recogition learned in september from a
source that Thales would supply sonar systems for the class. However
it appears that flank array sonars will actually be provided by Korean
company LIG Nex1. LIG will also supply KSS-III's combat management system.
The submarine will be fitted with south korean lithium-ion battery technology.